Improvement in violin tail-pieces



ROBERT KIRK.

1mprovement in Violin Tail-Pieces.

Patented June'20,1871f /ffnesses.

PATENT OFFICEc ROBERT KIRK, OF OLARKSVILLE, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN VIOLIN TAIL-PIECES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 116,198, dated June 20, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, ROBERT KIRK, of Clarksville, in the county ofOlinton and State o'Ohio, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Violin Tail-Pieces, and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the saine reference being had to the annexed drawing and to the letters oi reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 is a top View of my improved tailpiece. Fig. 2 is a like View with E-string attached. Fig. 3 is a Vertical section. Fig. is a side view and partial section.

This invention has relation to violins 5 and consists in the novel construction hereinafter described of the tail-piece, the chief object oi' the improvement in which is to provide for the attachment of the E-string in such a manner as to supply a convenient means for winding two or three lengths oi' this string continuously upon the tail-piece, thus serving to economize the same, while it obviates the practice common among' periormers on this instrument oi' winding this string in an oblique direction around and under the tail-piece.

A in the drawing represents the body of said tail-piece, which is attached to the violin in the ordinary manner and pierced with holes a b c, communicating with slots a t c for the reception of the ends of the proper strings. At that side of the tail-piece to which the E- string (marked E) is attached, two ears, F and G, are formed, and beside each of these rounded slots F and G cut. H represents a semicircular notch made in the forward end of the tail-piece, near the ear F. The E-string is attached by lirst winding it a few times around through the slot F and notch H, beginning by passing the string over the tail-piece, thence bringing it back and winding it between the notch H and slot G until the surplus be ex hausted, and ending by forming a loose knot or loop, or otherwise disposing of the terminus of the string so that it shall not unwind itself.

The E-string of a violin, being required to produce the highest note, is of' necessity more slender and more tightly drawn than the other strings. Consequently it is in greater danger and is consequently liable to be broken. In adopting the ordinary method of making a knot on the end and slipping thestring into a slot in the tail-piece there is a possibility of the string being injured and even breading. The difficulty here presented is by my device obviated. The large winding-surface gives a better purchase, and allows space for disposing of the surplusage of long strings.

Having fully described my invention, hat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The violin tail-piece herein described, provided with the notches G', F', and H, arranged as shown, for winding and attaching the E- string, substantially as speciiied.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT KIRK.

Witnesses:

IV. H. GARDNER, JAMES NORTON. 

